Pitt’s coaching search to replace the departed Todd Graham will begin immediately and some top candidates from last years coaching search will be on Pitt’s radar once again. Athletic director Steve Pederson who many are calling to resign, will hold a press conference at 5:30 p.m. Pitt has named Keith Patterson interim head coach. What’s going to be very intriguing with this search is whether Pitt will be enamored once again with an offensive minded spread offense type of coach and whether there will be more of an emphasis on getting a “safe coach” with Pitt ties. Here are some early names sources believe will be on Pitt’s shortlist of candidates. Florida International head coach Mario Cristobal – 41 years old, a hot name in coaching circles who Pitt looked into last year but didn’t emerge as a top candidate. Cristobal is intriguing from the standpoint that he’s considered anRead More »

Trade Buzz: Thursday’s 1-for-1 trade of young underperforming players saw the Minnesota Wild acquire center Victor Rask from the Carolina Hurricanes for left winger Nino Niederreiter. Carolina did an excellent job of being able to get out of the Rask contract, who has three years remaining with a $4 million cap hit. Rask has 1 goal, 5 assists on the season, mirrored in a 22-game goal drought. The logic here for Minnesota is taking the chance on a playmaking center who can help fill a top-9 spot longer term if the Wild move on from Eric Staal. Minnesota is also playing the card that a change of scenery will benefit the 24-year old who posted a career-high 21 goals, 48 points in 2015-2016.

Niederreiter’s trade value was stunted because of his contract, where he has three years left on his deal with a $5.25 million cap hit. Niederreiter is a player who is extremely hard to play against, drives possession well, and has three 20 goal seasons over his last four full seasons. Injuries (18 goals in 63 games) kept him from a 4th straight 20-goal season in 17-18. The Niederreiter acquisition also sets up as great insurance for the Hurricanes if they can’t resign Micheal Ferland. In the short-term, Carolina’s center situation is a mess with Jordan Staal sidelined with a concussion, but they’re getting the better player who fits the identity they’re trying to establish upfront, especially on the wings where they’ve identified the need for Patric Hornqvist type players.